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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

2010 Winter Olympics

I love the Olympics! Two years ago I blogged about the Summer Olympics in China and how into I got and the highlights for me... so I thought I would do the same for the Winter Olympics. I am all about tradition.First, I am proud to say that Novell was behind the scenes at these Winter Olympics. I even set up the contract in fact. I support Negotiators that cover the North & South East and Canada. This was part of an email I got from Novell."Behind the scenes, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) runs a very large and very complex IT operation. To make sure that it stays behind the scenes, VANOC has to make sure they do security right. Security is essential to hosting peaceful and excellent games, and has to be pervasive within the entire technology infrastructure to allow the world to concentrate on the most important thing—the athletes.That's where Novell comes in. To manage all their security events and data, VANOC has selected Novell technology, including Novell Sentinel and Novell identity and access management products, which are now being used across the board for the games. Throughout the process we have worked with our strategic partner, Atos Origin, who is the worldwide IT partner for the Olympic Games."Second, I am happy that the USA was at the top of the medal count. We basically rock. We may not have had the most gold medals (Canada can have that since they were on home soil) but I still enjoy seeing USA at the top.Third, I was over at my sister's Kristy's house. She is helping me with a little sewing project... but I didn't want to miss any Olympics, so I asked her if we could turn it on. When it was first turned on, my nice Reanne said it was a boring show. My sister and I then explained to her the fun and excitement of the Olympics. She then was loving it and cheering for the USA in all the sports and Kristy said she asked to watch it the nights after that and even got a little USA flag to wave around. I thought this was awesome.Fourth, it was the end of the month and time for me to be visit taught. One of my visiting teachers, Sara, was just as into the Olympics as I was.... so she came over for my appointment and we watched the Olympics together. She shared the message and we had a good discussion about it during commercial. She also brought treats! They were sugar cookies in the shape of the Olympic rings frosted in Red, white and Blue! Good message/Discussion + Awesome activity/ bonding + yummy treats = Best visiting teaching appointment EVER!!Okay, so on to the highlights for me. Honestly, I didn't get to watch the opening or closing ceremonies, but I heard they were good and from the clips I watched online... they were. As for the events, I of course LOVE to watch the ice skating. Although when it came to men's figure skating... we were more judging which of their outfits were the LEAST gay out of all of them, I was still proud that USA won the silver. His routine was awesome and I was cheering him on even if his outfit involved a lot of sequins and feathers. While we are talking about ice skating, I also really loved watching the Ice Dancing. As much as I wanted the US to win, Canada did do an awesome job and deserved the gold. The US was right up there in awesomeness though and I was happy that they won silver. I was hoping the other couple would also take the bronze and came close... but those darn Russians took it. I feel like they got it just because Russians always medal in this event, but because they really did better than the other US team. *Side Note - I thought it was lame and unfair that their used ropes to lift each other in their last routine*. Then there was the women's ice skating. USA did well... but what was memorable for me was when the Canadian girl did her routine. The poor girl's mom died two days before and she had to keep going.... her routine was awesome and she got a standing ovation as she and her dad cried together... along with the announcers.... and me and my visiting teacher. It was touching. I couldn't imagine what that must have been like for her.

The next event I really got into was Snow Boarding the half pipe! Our US guy, Shaun White was out of control. First of all... I have a hard time taking him seriously... probably because he reminds me of Carrot Top. But seriously... this guy is only 23 and did some amazing tricks and went higher than any other snow boarder. He practices his secret awesome moves in a private place in the middle of nowhere, gets there by private helicopter. That is how awesome he is. He also skate boards.The Skiing races were also pretty fun. With races it is always nice... whoever gets the fasts time, wins. With ice skating, I feel like it is very political and I tend to get a little upset because the judging is unfair. Anyway... I also think the skiers and other athletes that have multiple events are lucky..... because if they mess up one, they still get more chances. Like Lindsay Vonn for example. She messed up.... but she also won gold. Can't really complain about that.Normally I don't really get into the Bobsled, but I watched a lot out of curiosity this year. The guys look like football players and it is so dangerous! I felt like I saw so many bobsleds tiped over. I would cringe everytime knowing they are going like 90 miles an hour. They must have some hard core helmets, seriously. Go USA!Although I know there are many more events, I want to talk about only one more. My other favorite besides ice skating is Speed Skating. Although they just skate around in a circle, this is one of the most exciting events. I compare it to the excitement of swimming races in the Summer Olympics. I mean... the difference between winning gold, silver and bronze and be separated by only a millisecond! Apollo was AMAZING! I mean.... he stays behind most of the race and then knows how to sneak right up at the end of the race. It is so fun to watch. The first Olympic Saturday night I was at home a lone watching this event. Usually I am not very vocal when I am a lone... but I was screaming in anticipation for Apollo! It was so exciting! I love it!I heart the Olympics! I absolutely love watching them and cheering on the athletes for our country. It is so exciting. I think I need to add to my bucket list to go to the Olympics some day. As much as I love them, I am glad they are over because it consumes my life for those two weeks. Totally worth it though. I mean... its only two weeks every two years right? I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. Sorry this post is SO long.

9 comments:

Gotta love the olympics. However, I think in men's figure skating the USA won GOLD! (not silver) It was a huge controversy b/c the Russians felt like the USA didn't deserve it. Did you see all the crazy interviews after wards with the gold winner? He held himself together well, I thought.

I have never been able to get into the Olympics. If I live with some one that watches them... then I will be interested. I used to like ice skating when I was little, but I think most girls do. Right now movies about the olympics are about all I can take. Cutting Edge anyone?

Yeah I think Evan won the gold and I totally thought he was gay at first but after hearing his interviews, I think he actually seems pretty normal. Minus his outfits. My dream is to go the Olympics too! Lets totally plan to go together in 4 years!

I'm still missing the Olympics and I like the figure skating but the ice dancing is just too much for me - it sometimes feels like hot pokers in my eyes after I watch three or four routines. Love the blog!